Protect your tech
FEATURE
BACKPACK BEACON
This project is a simple way
to make your own tracking
device that you can tuck away in your
backpack. Essentially, what you are
doing is turning the RuuviTag into a
proximity beacon and for this we’re
using Eddystone, the open beacon
format from Google. Make sure
you’re running the latest version of
Eddystone by flashing the firmware.
The RuuviTag is set up for Over the Air
(OTA) updating, so it’s easy to flash.
You’ll need a phone: we used the Moto
G4 Android smartphone for the job, so
we needed to download nRF Connect
(http://bit.ly/nRFConnect) from the
Play Store.ENTER THE
BOOTLOADER
Now you need to head on over
to https://lab.ruuvi.com/
dfu on your phone, scroll to the ‘Ruuvi
Firmware’ link and download it. To
flash RuuviTag, we first need to enter
its bootloader, so prise it open and
pop it out of its enclosure using the
attached metal clip. On the RuuviTag,
you’ll notice two tiny buttons. Press
the one marked R while keeping B
pressed to enter the bootloader. If
you’re successful you’ll get a red light.
Next, open nRF Connect and swipe
down to refresh. ‘Ruuviboot’ should
pop up as a found device so press
‘Connect’. At this point the light on
the board will turn green.MAKE A DIY BACKPACK TRACKER WITH RUUVITAG
PREPARE TO FLASH
In the top right-hand corner
of the app’s GUI there’s a
tiny DFU icon which you now need to
tap. This enables you to select the
file type you want to use. The default
‘Distribution package (ZIP)’ is correct,
so Click ‘OK’ and select the Ruuvi
Firmware. This will start the upload to
your RuvviTag. (Note: It’s confusing
but the firmware file is actually called
weather_station_1.0.1.zip.) Once
complete, it will display ‘Application
has been sent’ and disconnect
from Ruuviboot. Now you’ve got to
configure your tag as a beacon.GET EDDY READY
Head back to https://
lab.ruuvi.com/dfu/ and
download the second link called
‘Eddystone’. Go back to Step 3 and
follow the same process, but choose
eddystone_dfu_1.0.0.zip to upload.CONFIGURE YOUR
BEACON
Now to the configuration
proper. First, download nRF
Beacon for Eddystone (http://bit.
ly/nRFBeaconforEddy), but this
time press B to get a red light and
enter config mode. Launch thenRF Beacon for Eddystone, click
the ‘Update’ tab, click the RuvviTag
Device from available devices and
you’ll connect. This will bring up an
‘Unlock Beacon’ box that needs a 16
byte default unlock code. This will be:
0x00112233445566778899aabbccdd
eeff. Configure the beacon by
typing a dummy address into ‘Slot
0’, such as https://my-backpack.
The transmission interval needs to
be set to 300 milliseconds, so edit
‘Adv. interval’. The recommended
transmission power is -4 decibel-
milliwatts (dBm), so alter that in the
‘Radio Tx Power’ option. Now click
‘Disconnect’. You’re all set!TEST YOUR BACKPACK
BEACON
We stuck the tag inside a
backpack, at the top. This shouldn’t
affect the signal too much, but you
could put it on the outside – the
RuuviTag is waterproof. To track your
tag, you can use any beacon scanner.
We’ve just used Beacon Toy (http://
bit.ly/BeaconToy). Open the side
menu and click on ‘Beacons around
me’ and your Ruuvitag will pop up.
The tag has a range of 50 metres (150
feet), but you’ll get a distance from
your backpack in metres to track it.HOW TO1
2
3
4
5
6